Midland Christian head coach Greg McClendon took the blame for his offense’s lackluster performance last Friday.

The Mustangs offense could only muster three points during a 26-5 road loss to Argyle Liberty Christian in a TAPPS Division I, District 1 affair.

The MCS offense managed only 244 total yards and it was shut out for the final 3 1/2 quarters after an early field goal by McLane Mannix.

The Mustangs’ running game, which had been churning for four straight games, was held to a paltry 35 yards on 22 attempts.

“Overall, our defense, they played their tails off,” McClendon said. “(They) turned the ball over, gave us field position, and we had opportunities. We shot ourselves in the foot with mistakes and penalties and stuff, lack of consistency, which is my fault.

“Because I’m the coach and I am the one that is responsible for it being done the right way that we dot our I’s and cross our T’s. I’m obviously not getting that done to this point. I will go back to work harder, and I know our kids will respond and we will be a better football team this next week.”

Despite the 21-point loss, McClendon felt the Mustangs had their opportunities to beat Argyle Liberty.

Trailing by one score at 13-5, MCS moved the ball to the Argyle Liberty 10-yard line and had a first-and-10. However, the Mustangs self-destructed with a holding penalty and eventually came away empty when a fake field goal attempt was intercepted. McClendon said an MCS receiver was wide open in the end zone on the fake field goal attempt.

“That’s throughout the game,” McClendon said. “It’s not just that play or that drive. It’s over and over again.”

With the loss, the Mustangs (3-3, 1-2 in TAPPS Division I, District 1) fell into a fifth-place tie in district with Fort Worth Nolan Catholic (1-5, 1-2 in TAPPS Division I, District 1).

MCS faces another adept quarterback

Midland Christian faces some of Texas’ most talented high school players in TAPPS Division I, District 1.

That was the case last Friday when the Mustangs squared off against Argyle Liberty Christian quarterback Nick Starkel, an Oklahoma State verbal commit.

MCS outside linebacker Silas Crews and defensive back Casey Hart both had interceptions versus Starkel, but it wasn’t enough as the future collegiate quarterback threw for 414 yards and tossed two touchdowns in Argyle Liberty’s win.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier this week as MCS visits 2014 state finalist Plano Prestonwood (4-2, 2-1 in TAPPS Division I, District 1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Prestonwood is laden with talent, too, which includes outside linebacker Deonte Williams, who has verbally committed to No. 2 Baylor.

The Lions boast a capable athlete playing quarterback in Ryan Cash, a two-sport star that has verbally committed to play baseball at Oklahoma State.

Cash has thrown for 1,704 yards and 21 touchdowns, while throwing only one interception.

Elliott completed 68.8 percent of his passes, while not turning the ball over for the second consecutive week.

“He’s playing more consistently week in, week out,” McClendon said of Elliott. “We need him to continue to do that.”

Trinity makes statement in district opener

Trinity sailed to a 59-14 road victory over Watauga Harvest Christian in its TAPPS Six-Man Division I, District 1 opener on Friday night.

The Chargers (5-1, 1-0 in TAPPS Six-Man Division I, District 1) beat the Saints (4-2, 0-1) soundly, an impressive feat considering the latter reached the state finals in 2014.

The win moved Trinity from No. 3 to No. 2 in the TAPPS Division I state rankings.

“We knew that was a big game,” Chargers head coach Antwan Alexander said. “A lot of different variables that were in that game. Us being district champs and with Watauga being the state runner up, it was a lot at stake for that game. It was a lot bigger than just the first district game.”

Trinity intercepted Watauga Harvest three times as Peyton Harrington recorded two takeaways and Vincent Baiano added another.

The Chargers also welcomed back defensive line standout Ja’cyree Webbs from injury. Webbs scored a touchdown on offense.

“That’s another thing that happened this game: Everybody played together as a team,” Alexander said. “There wasn’t a person who was trying to go out and make all the tackles, catch all the touchdown passes. They start to understand, if I do my job, then others will benefit from what we do collectively.”